We regularly receive questions about measurements with the electrosurgical analyzer. What are its features and capabilities? It’s time to address this. In this blog, we will discuss the basic measurements and additional features.
The basic measurements of the electrosurgical analyzer
The following measurements are possible with the QA-ES III:
1. Power measurement
During power measurement, you measure the output power of the electrosurgical unit. This allows you to check whether the unit actually delivers the desired power (Watt) that is set, even at different impedances. The QA-ES III offers a range from 0 to 5200 Ohm with which you can perform the measurement.
2. High-frequency leakage current measurement
Here, you measure the number of milliamperes of leakage current at the maximum set power of the electrosurgical unit. Always use the correct connection diagram of the device in question and take into account the manufacturer’s instructions for this measurement.
3. Power distribution test
During this measurement, the electrosurgical analyzer gradually increases the impedance at a fixed power setting. You enter a start and end impedance and the step size with which the impedance is increased. This allows you to check whether the unit delivers the expected power over this range of impedances.
Additional measurements and features
In addition to the basic measurements, the QA-ES III also has additional measurement options and features. For example, the QA-ES III makes it possible to check the Vessel Sealing functionality. This measures the number of milliamperes that the device delivers during Vessel Sealing.
Furthermore, electrosurgical units have a function to check whether the patient plates are properly placed and making correct contact. This is called Contact Quality Monitoring (CQM). During this test, the QA-ES III increases the resistance in steps of 1 Ohm. The device must fall within the correct resistance range in order to activate.
A useful feature of the QA-ES III is the ability to activate the device without using the foot or hand switch. This can be controlled via the connections on the front of the analyzer. As soon as you start a measurement, the device activates and immediately delivers the desired power.
Below is an example of how this can be connected.
These are the various possibilities and features of the QA-ES III electrosurgical analyzer in a nutshell.
